Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Propogating Plants = FREE plants-- for the BLACK thumb people out there

I am always looking for ways to NOT spend money. I don't want to say I'm cheap, but OK, I AM.

Actually it's not so much that I'm cheap as it is, I hate spending on things that I don't need, or on things that I know I can do or make myself. Let me tell you that I actually have no problem dropping a few hundred at the local HOME depot, and filling my home with beautiful plants, only to kill them. Thank goodness they have a one year warranty on them, right. After several trips returning dead plants, I finally just said, OK, let me look around and see what CAN survive in this hostile environment. I have a few winners, who bless their little hearts, have stuck with me. Don't know how, but they live.

Naturally then, I can say that propagating them to make more hearty little plants is a GOOD thing. More plants for me, makes me HAPPY, and well little guys should go on to live happy lives, even with me as the plant lady, he he.

This beauty, has grown beautifully, and while I think the directions said that it likes more shade, than anything else, I actually have it next to my front door, with a huge window on top, so it gets filtered sun all day. It seems to be happy, and let me tell you, I forget to water my plants ALL the time. Even then, it doesn't mind too much, it might lose a leaf or two, but that's about all.

It has grown A LOT since getting it maybe a year ago. It used to be just maybe 3 or 4 leaves tall, now you can see it is cascading over the ledge. So it was time for a quick trim, and BELLA has new plants. Just in time too, because I was itching to go on a shopping spree again.

Here is how I did it.

Isn't this a cute jar? My new plants, I got three jars full, which = at least three new plants.

Here's the donor plant, he he.

See how long it was getting, time for a trim baby.

These little roots, are at every node. Any plant that you see this on, is SUPER easy to propogate in water.

Another look at one stem. I cut this baby, into 3-4 new stems.

Cut ONE, make it a diagnal, right BELOW a node.

Then remove the remaining stem, up until the new node. That stem will rot, if you don't cut it, as there is no way for it to root, without that node on the bottom.

Then remove the bottom 2- 3 leaves. So you are left with a stem, and a couple leaves on top.

Want proof, ok, here is a sample from my other long time water dweller plant cuttings. This one also barely had a tiny leaf on it, but it is clearly growing just fine. I'm telling you, as long as there is ONE leaf, and a node, it will grow.

Again, my plants in their new jars.

With any unruley stems, I just bobby pinned them down, and where they make contact with the soil, guess what they will root.

5 comments:

I'm with you on this topic -- I totally love jar gardens on my kitchen window ledges too. I must have a dozen little bouquets at the moment and am hoping that most of them sprout roots. But if not, it's ok too. The little posies of greenery seem to last for a long time and help my house look just so much cozier!

In my spare time I enjoy cooking, and baking. In fact my mother and I have been making cakes for over 30 years. I also love gardening, traveling, and all things crafty. I struggle daily to keep my like organized, along with my never ending battle to keep the house clean. I adore my three kids MOST of the time, and can usually be found doing the mom thing from morning till night. I try to catch a few mommy moments, but those are hard to find in this wonderful life of mine. I am blessed and happy, and am thrilled you stopped by today :)

Hi, I'm Bella

Welcome to my blog. This place is a work in progress, just like my life, home, and body. Hopefully the things I blog about will inspire you. My goal is to better myself, my home, my life and those around me. Thanks for stopping by, and don't forget to connect with me below :)

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Bella's 40 Day Challenge - Getting Healthy

I started my first 40 day challenge on Feb 18th, 2013 with the goal to get a little healthier before my 34th birthday, 40 days away on March 29th.

I've tried to concentrate on eating healthy, (healthier), working out again, (practicing YOGA), and trying to accomplish several other personal goals along the way.

My starting stats were as followed:

Age 33Height 5'7PBF (percent body fat) 36.4BMI (body mass index) 29.2

My starting weight was :

186.3

Just to be clear, my goal is not to LOSE weight, but to reduce my BODY FAT, and get healthier all around.

Here is my journey. I hope you read it in order so you can see how things change as the days and weeks go on. Just because I planned it one way, doesn't mean it ended up working out like that. I've learned so much so far, and am so happy to say that I FINALLY started this challenge.

Let me know if you are struggling with the same things right now, I would love to give you any advice I can, and of course if you have anything to share with me to help me with my journey PLEASE let me know. I love hearing from all of you!